Grant E Linsell, D.M.A.


Education

Doctorate of Musical Arts in Wind Ensemble Conducting with a cognate in Clarinet Performance from Arizona State University, 2007. 

Masters of Music in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Oregon, 2004.

Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2000.

Higher Education Appointments

  • Rio Hondo College, Whittier, CA Since 2017

    • Dean of Arts and Cultural Programs, Dean of Distance Education

  • Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, OR 2013 to 2017

    • Director of Instrumental Activities

  • Willamette University, Salem, OR 2007 to 2013

    • Director of the Wind & Percussion Program

  • Minot State University, Minot, ND 2006 to 2007

    • Director of Bands, Woodwinds Instructor

  • Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 2004 to 2006

    • Director of the Arizona State University Concert Band, Graduate Research Fellow in the Intelligent Stage/Motion Capture Lab, Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Band Department

  • University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 2002 to 2004

    • Graduate Teaching Fellow in the Band Department

  • University of Michigan Marching Band 1998 to 1999

    • Equipment Staff Manager, Instrument Repair Technician.

Public School & Related Appointments

  • Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Sitka, AK Since 2014

    • Concert Band Director, Chamber Music Coach, Clarinet Instructor

  • Forest Grove Schools, Forest Grove, OR 2013

    • Orchestra Director

  • Lansing Eastern High School, Lansing, MI 2000 to 2002

    • Director of Instrumental Music, Fine Arts Department Head

  • Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts, Detroit, MI 2000

    • Student Teaching (Secondary School) Instrumental (Band and Orchestra) Music, Music Theory.

  • Spain Dual School, Detroit, MI 2000

    • Student Teaching (Primary School) Instrumental Music (Band and Orchestra), Grades 4-8.

  • Fred J. Miller Clinics for Marching Auxiliaries Summers: 1995 to 1998

    • Drum Major and Leadership Programs Coordinator and Instructor.

Performance Appointments

  • Washington Trombone Collective, Seattle, WA Since 2016

    • Conductor

  • Mill Ave Chamber Players, Phoenix, AZ 2008-2013

    • Conductor

  • New Music @ Willamette Chamber Orchestra 2011 to 2013

    • Conductor

  • Portland Columbia Orchestra, Portland, OR 2009 to 2011

    • Clarinet

  • Minot Symphony Orchestra, Minot, ND 2006 to 2007

    • Principal Clarinet

  • Bismarck Symphony Orchestra, Bismarck, ND 2006 to 2007

    • Acting Principal Clarinet

  • Clarinet Private Instruction Since 1993

Publication/Presentation

  • Biennial Faculty Art Show, Rio Hondo College Art Gallery

    • Installation: “Coyote” Two channel sound recording and digital projection, 2019

  • Alaska Music Educators Association Annual Convention

    • Presentation: “Lighting their Fire: Enhancing Student Engagement through Composition” 2018

  • Alaska Music Educators Association Annual Convention

    • Presentation: “(re)Lighting your Fire: Essential Connections in Life and Art” 2018

  • Alaska Arts Southeast - Sitka Fine Arts Camp

    • Performance: “TriPawd” for Clarinet and Live Electronics. 2017

  • Oregon Music Educators Association

    • Session: Performance-Only Grading in Your Ensemble: Navigating Oregon's new education laws." 2014

  • Athens Institute for Education and Research International Conference on Visual and Performing Arts

    • Paper: “Sergei Diaghilev: The man who created the Parisian musical world at the turn of the last century.” 2012

  • University of Oregon Lifelong Learning Institute, Portland, Oregon

    • Lecture: Emotional Meaning in Music. 2012

  • Collegiate Band Directors National Association West/Northwest Division Conference

    • Session: “Quality Repertoire Without Excessive Technical Demands.” 2010 & 2012

  • Willamette University’s U-Think Lecture Series

    • Lecture: Music and the Brain: or, This is your Brain on Music. 2012

  • Hawaii University International Conferences on Arts and Humanities

    • Paper: “Modernism, Primitivism, Nationalism: Igor Stravinsky's Paris in 1920” (abstract published in conference proceedings). 2011

  • Recital of Clarinet Duet Repertoire

    • Faculty recital: With Natalie Pascale at Willamette University. 2010

  • Institute for Continued Learning, Salem, Oregon

    • Lecture: The Strange History of the Clarinet. 2010

  • University of Oregon Lifelong Learning Institute, Portland, Oregon

    • Lecture: Music and the Brain: How it all Works. 2009

  • Oregon Symphony Orchestra

    • “Concert Conversations” with Israeli clarinetist, Sharon Kam and the Music Director of the Oregon Symphony, Carlos Kalmar. 2008

  • Institute for Continued Learning, Salem, Oregon

    • Lecture: Spacial Music: What is Next in Classical Music. 2008

  • Doctoral Dissertation, Arizona State University

    • “Igor Stravinsky: Wind Ensemble Works in Context.” 2007

Recent Compositions/Editions

Duties and Accomplishments

Rio Hondo College, Whittier, CA

Dean of Arts & Cultural Programs

  • Leadership & Supervision of a diverse group of nearly one hundred direct reports including unionized full and part-time faculty and staff.

  • Financial Oversight of multi-million dollar annual budgets in the areas of personnel, equipment, supplies, and building projects; management of grants and awards from both pubic and private funders and individual donors.

  • Principal Investigator and lead author on major grants from the National Endowment of the Arts, private foundations, the federal government, and the State of California ($485K).

  • Enrollment Management: The Arts Division has seen a sustained enrollment, efficiency, and student success growth and our awards (both Certificates and Degrees) are increasing each semester. These growths are connected to data-driven scheduling, proactive faculty hiring, and deep support for artistic programs.

  • Cultural Events: Transformed the Cultural Events programming from a small local program to a large-scale culturally important slate of events which speak to the broad ethnicities, backgrounds, interests, and educational needs of our broader community.

  • Committee Work: Presidential Search, Guided Pathways Steering, Administrative Council, Institutional Effectiveness, Online Education, Open Educational Resources, Enterprise Systems, Management and Confidential Council, Classified Staffing, Associated Students Funding.

  • Process Modernization: Supervised and implemented updated policies and procedures to streamline administrative and clerical work in the Division (ex. Arts Events marketing and media, Arts facilities management, artwork and supplies inventories). 

  • Technology: Proficient in software essential to the operations of the Division including but not limited to Taskstream, Canvas, CurrIQunet, Luminis, Starfish, Peopleadmin, Microsoft Office.

Dean of Distance Education

  • Oversight: Provided leadership, strategic planning, and enrollment management for Online Education across the College. 

  • Statewide Initiatives: Worked to align the College’s mission with the State of California on projects such as: Open Education Initiative, Open Educational Resources, Zero-Textbook Cost, Vision for Success. Frequent Sacramento travel for Chancellor’s Office meetings and advocacy.

Acting Dean of Libraries & Instructional Support (6/18-1/19)

  • Management & Operations: Provided leadership, mentorship, and oversight of a large operational staff, student workers, and instructional faculty. Oversaw all aspects of the Libraries on campus including collections development, budget, cataloguing, technology, marketing & media, instruction, and outreach.

Mt. Hood Community College

  • Applied Lesson Program oversight: Supervised a faculty of more than twenty applied-lesson instructors. Redesigned the lesson curriculum to better align with instructional best practices. Implemented a more consistent end-of-term juried examination protocol. Aligned the curriculum toward our four-year partner institutions. Elected to teach in the program for first-hand experience.

  • Articulations and alignments: Implemented, wrote, or finalized transfer agreements with Pacific University (Forest Grove, OR), Marylhurst University, (Portland area), and Western Oregon University (Monmouth, OR).

  • Recruitment and retention: During an era of declining college-wide enrollment, I was instrumental in stabilizing, then increasing, enrollments in the Performing Arts Department.

  • Online and hybrid course creation: Created, designed, and taught courses for both General Education and Music students. I am proficient in Dreamweaver (HTML), Blackboard, Camtasia Relay, and many other current educational technologies.

  • Festivals: Directed both the Northwest Orchestra Festival and the Northwest Jazz Band Festival. These festivals bring more than 3,000 secondary-school students to campus each year. Schools attend from across the country and are adjudicated by nationally-renowned experts. The Northwest Orchestra festival is the single largest secondary-school student event on campus.

  • Marketing/social media: Created and administrated the Department’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram programs to promote events, support recruiting, connect with alumni, and enhance the concert-going experience. Contributed to the new college-wide social media regulations.

  • Advised undergraduates in Associate’s degree, transfer, and CTE programs.

Willamette University

  • Program oversight: Oversaw a faculty of nine applied-lesson instructors; administrated a large program budget that funded large and small ensembles, equipment procurement and upkeep, ensemble libraries, and applied-lesson studios; and implemented a juried examination system for the wind and percussion students where there had been no previous standardization.

  • Full Wind-Band Program redesign: Created a large pool of players from which many different ensemble configurations could be drawn. This allowed us to challenge the most talented and dedicated players on campus (regardless of major) while allowing members with less time or experience to participate in a meaningful and artistic way.

  • Guest Artists: Clinicians and artists-in-residence included: The Imani Winds (Woodwind Quintet - New York), Noru Ka Soru Ka (Dance Ensemble - Japan), The Spanish Brass (Brass Ensemble - Spain), The United States Navy Band (DC), Jon Whitaker (Trombone - University of Alabama), Georg Hofmann (Percussion - Konservatorium Winterthur, Switzerland), Joe Wytko (Saxophone - Arizona State University). Guest conductors included: James Tapia (Syracuse University), Jesse Leyva (University of Illinois), Gregory Whitmore (Cathedral City). Exposure to guest artists and clinicians of traditionally underrepresented groups was a high priority.

  • Technology/Social Media: Created and administrated the Wind Ensemble’s Facebook and Twitter programs to promote events, support recruiting, connect with alumni, and enhance the concert-going experience. I procured the infrastructure and began webcasting every Wind Ensemble concert as well as many other events in the music department. To better connect with and inform audiences, I began printing small concert programs with a QR code and web address for an online enhanced program with in-depth information on the works being performed, their composers, and the musicians involved.

  • New compositions: Commissioned or was a member of the commissioning consortium for works by Steven Bryant (Concerto for Wind Ensemble - 2009), Andrew Ardizzoia (Midsummer Pavanes, 2012), Beth Ratay (Jednou po západu slunce - version for Baritone voice and Harmonie, 2012).

  • University service: Elected to the Academic Council (a committee which oversees all academic areas for undergraduates from faculty positions to academic programs to student status). Served on various committees including: Admissions, Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards, Commencement, and Holiday Events Planning. Conducted the annual commencement band (gratis). Advised student groups on campus including: Athletic Bands at WU, Mu Phi Epsilon Music Fraternity, Willamette Dance Company, UpTop (female vocal ensemble), Headband, (male vocal ensemble), Angles (LGBT support and allies), Collegiate MENC.

  • Advised undergraduates in Music Performance, Music Education, and B.A. (Music) programs.

  • Searches: Chaired or was a member of search committees for Salem Chamber Orchestra’s Principal Conductor; Willamette’s Jazz Area Director; and Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, and Percussion instructors. Was an advisor to the search committees for the University President and for the Vice President of Admissions in the College of Liberal Arts.

Minot State University

  • Northwest International Festival: As the coordinator of this annual festival, I administrated all aspects of the program including repertoire selection, staff hiring and training, marketing and promotion, logistics, recruiting and auditioning high-school students from the US and Canada, and conducting the top wind ensemble.

  • Collaboration: In cooperation with the International Artist Series, I hosted internationally renown trumpet player Joe Burgstaller (Peabody). While on campus, he taught masterclasses and workshops and worked with the Minot State University Concert Band to record his live concert of Rafael Mendez’s trumpet masterworks (2006)

  • University Service: Elected to the undergraduate Faculty Senate. Served on the commencement, athletics, and the student life committees. Advised undergraduates in Music Performance, Music Education, and B.A. (Music) programs.

Lansing Eastern High School

  • Fine Arts Department Head: Elected to head the team responsible for reforming the district-wide instrumental music curriculum.

  • Teaching: Course load included conducting two symphonic bands; directing a large competitive marching band; directing string orchestra; teaching Class Piano, Jazz Band, AP Music Theory, Music Appreciation, and Computer Performing Art and Technology; and coordinating all aspects of the large contemporary band program with a staff of more than ten instructors.

  • Growing the program: During my tenure, the band program grew so much that the district approved adding a second symphonic band. This marked the first time in the long history of the school (since 1927) that they had two ensembles participate in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association Concert Band Festival.

  • Private Lesson Program: The Lansing Public Schools in Lansing, Michigan have more than two-thirds of their students eligible for free or reduced lunch. In this environment, it was nearly impossible for instrumental students to afford private lessons. In cooperation with students in the School of Music at Michigan State University, I set-up an area-wide (later district-wide) private-lesson program that received its funding from area music-booster programs and government and private foundation grants.

Arizona State University

Graduate Research Fellow in the Intelligent Stage/Motion Capture Lab

  • Intelligent Stage/Motion Capture Lab: The Intelligent Stage is a joint venture between the Herberger College of Fine Arts, Institute of Studies in the Arts, and the Arts, Media, and Engineering program at Arizona State University. The lab is a state-of-the-art research environment and performance space dedicated to the expansion of studies in interactive performance technologies. There, I helped to develop a computer-based interactive conducting practice tool and a three-dimensional real-time conducting evaluation tool, researched the specific movement differences between novice and expert conductors, and created three-dimensional models of people conducting live ensembles.

Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Band Department

  • Band Department: Assisted with a variety of aspects of the Band Program within the School of Music including program design, music library operations, ensemble management, and national conference planning; taught undergraduate courses; assistant conducted graduate and undergraduate ensembles.

University of Oregon

  • Event coordination: Planned and administrated the annual high school band festival and coordinated the long-running summer music program.

  • Band Department: Assisted with the operation of the Oregon Marching Band and the Oregon Basketball Band, performed band department administration; coordinated winter programs, supervised undergraduate work-study students, taught undergraduate courses, and frequently guest conducted graduate and undergraduate ensembles.

College-Level Courses Taught

Mt Hood College

  • Symphonic Band, Symphonic Orchestra, Chamber Ensembles

  • Jazz Ensembles, Jazz Combos, Jazz Improvisation

  • Courses in the Music Theory and Aural Skills sequence

  • Electronic Music Production - Online Hybrid

  • Music Appreciation (GenEd) - Online & In Person

Willamette University

  • Wind Ensemble, University Band

  • Basic Conducting, Advanced Conducting

  • Instrumental Music Education, Woodwind Methods, General Music Education

  • Applied Clarinet

  • The entire Music Theory and Aural Skills sequence

  • Music History III (Modern)

  • Music, the Brain, and Ecstasy (GenEd)

  • The Cultural History of Hip Hop (GenEd)

Minot State University

  • Concert Band, Athletic Band, Woodwind Ensemble

  • Band Methods, Wind Ensemble Literature, Woodwind Methods

  • Applied Clarinet & Saxophone

  • Courses in the Music Theory and Aural Skills sequence

  • Music Technology

Arizona State University

  • Concert Band

  • Beginning Instrumental Conducting

Professional Engagements (selected)

  • Mt. San Antonio College Wind Ensemble, Walnut, CA

  • Dramatic Vocal Arts production of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutti - Conductor - Salem, OR

  • Southeast Alaska All-State Honor Band

  • New York Area All-State High School Band

  • Henderson State University Summer Music Camp, AR

  • Salem Youth Symphony Orchestra, OR

  • Northwest International Festival of Music, ND

  • International Music Camp, ND/MB

  • Label Horde Fashion Show Music, Phoenix, AZ

  • Eugene Composers’ Collective, OR

  • 100th Monkey New Music Ensemble, Eugene, OR

  • Mesa Arts Academy, AZ

  • Plymouth Canton Educational Park Marching Band, MI

  • West Salem High School Band and Orchestra, OR

  • South Salem High School Band, OR

  • Southridge High School Band, OR

Professional Organizations

•College Band Directors National Association

Involved in the planning/facilitating the 2005 CBDNA National Conference in New York City. Coordinated registration; designed and hosted the official conference website; produced conference materials; assisted with onsite facilitation and logistics.

•World Association of School Bands and Ensembles

•National Association for Music Education (formerly the Music Educators National Conference)

•College Music Society

•National Association for Collegiate Wind and Percussion Instructors

•American String Teachers Association 

•International Clarinet Association

•Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity

Private Study

Conducting.

  • Professor Gary W. Hill – Director of Bands, Arizona State University

  • Professor Robert Ponto – Director of Bands, University of Oregon

  • Dr. Kevin L. Sedatole – Director of Bands, Michigan State University

  • Dr. James R. Tapia – Director of Orchestral Studies, Syracuse University

Clarinet.

  • Professor Deborah Chodacki – Associate Professor of Clarinet at East Carolina University

  • Professor E. Fred Ormand – Emeritus Professor of Clarinet at the University of Michigan

  • Dr. Wayne Bennett – Professor of Clarinet at the University of Oregon

Symposia/Masterclasses

  • H. Robert Reynolds

  • Jerry Junkin

  • Alan McMurray

  • Kevin Sedatole

  • James Tapia

  • Robert Halseth

  • Mitch Fennel